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A good hair day has the power to boost your confidence and improve your mood, so creating a haircare routine that lends itself to beautiful locks is vital as we all begin to leave the comfort of our homes and enjoy the weather as vaccination numbers rise. While expensive shampoos and hair masks can be of great benefit to your strands, if you’re strapped for cash or are looking for a more natural route to follow, essential oils may be just the solution you’re searching for.
Just as certain foods contain vitamins and minerals which can improve your overall health, so too can essential oils. When applied topically to your strands, they can support healthy hair growth, thickening and strengthening your locks so it becomes easier to achieve a good hair day everyday. If you struggle with thinning strands or are simply looking to add a little extra something to your hair, there are three essential oils that experts agree you should be using regularly for the hair of your dreams.
Lavender
Soothing and floral scented, adding a few drops of lavender essential oil into your shampoo can help to spark new hair growth, lending itself to longer length and a healthier scalp. “Lavender essential oil helps the hair grow quicker. Add a few drops to hair oil, shampoo, or conditioner,” suggests hair expert Ghanima Abdullah. However, she warns, don’t expert to see results overnight. “It takes at least a month to start seeing results.” If you struggle with scalp irritation and itchiness, lavender oil may also be useful in reducing any flaking and dandruff which may occur. Master stylist Stephanie Angelone explains that lavender oil is great for minimizing scalp issues because it is a soothing oil by nature.
Peppermint
Offering a fresh and clean scent to your strands, peppermint essential oil is also great for initiating hair growth so that your locks appear thicker and healthier over time. “Peppermint essential oil puts more hair follicles into the growth phase. So if some of your hair follicles are naturally resting, with no hair being produced, you can get them back into action with peppermint essential oil,” explains Abdullah. “This will help you have thicker hair because you’ll have more hair follicles producing hair at one time. This essential oil cools the skin rapidly, so it’s best for summertime use.” Add a few drops to your shampoo for a naturally fresh and invigorating boost this summer.
Rosemary
If you’re partial to a softer herbal scent for your essential oils then rosemary will be a great addition to your haircare routine. Add a few drops into your shampoo or conditioner and Abdullah explains that much like lavender and peppermint oil, rosemary will trigger hair growth from more strands, creating a thicker appearance from your locks, but “again, these things take time.” Particularly if you suffer from dandruff or an itchy scalp, rosemary oil can have a soothing effect, eliminating scalp irritation for good due to its anti-inflammatory properties. If you’re struggling with a scalp sunburn this summer, rosemary essential oil may be the cure you need for peeling.
